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Taking a stand on US immigration

About 250 people march to the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement office with a goal of stopping future deportations on October 14, 2013, in Phoenix, Arizona. (AP/ROSS D. FRANKLIN)

Tuesday, November 26 at 19:30 GMT:

Immigration-reform activists are stepping up pressure on the US government. Frustrated by the lack of progress, many ‘Dreamers’ are turning to more aggressive tactics. They’re protesting, going on hunger strikes, and engaging in acts of civil disobedience, to push Congress to enact legislation and President Obama to halt deportations. They say since traditional lobbying did not work, it’s time for escalation. But, will these tactics succeed?

Taking a stand on US immigration

Activists open new front in battle for immigration reform.

A recent study shows 63 per cent of Americans support legislation that would enable 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States to become citizens. In June, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill that would give undocumented immigrants temporary legal status within six months and a path to citizenship over a 13-year period. However, members of the House of Representatives remain divided on the issue, despite public support.

The immigration bill has been stuck in the House of Representatives since June. Most recently, Speaker of the House John Boehner told reporters that reform is 'absolutely not dead' but that a vote on the bill is not possible this year.

Boehner: House will not pass Senate immigration billcbsnewsonline

Some online expressed pessimism over the likelihood of immigration reform:

@ThePlumLineGS do you think there's any realistic chance anything meaningful passes the House in the end? I hope yes but think not likely.Mark darak

@AJStream It's a long road to travel as immigration reform is low on Congress' agenda due to lack of time & the step-by-step approachalhaji hamidu chodi

@AJStream no point with the blame game but the Republicans have inhibited a lot of progress due to their ideologies and political motives.Netusha Naidu

A recent report released shows that deportations under the Obama administration are set to reach 2 million by 2014.

P.S. The Obama admin deported more illegal immigrants in one term than Bush did in two. 1.4 million.CJ Ciaramella

Obama heckled over deportations today... He's deported more undocumented immigrants than any other president, almost two million in 5 years.Enrique Acevedo

In two terms, Bush deported 1.57 million undocumented people. In two and half years, #Obama has deported 1 million undocumented people.ImminentFeministCoup

Frustrated by the lack of progress, many ‘Dreamers’ are turning to more aggressive tactics. A series of protests, sit-ins, hunger strikes, and vigils have swept across several states. Proponents of the immigration bill from both the Republican and Democratic parties are concerned that further delays could push reform until at least 2014. Others are concerned that the 2016 presidential race would shift the focus away from immigration reform bill.

In the video below, undocumented immigrants calling on the president to put a halt on deportation handcuff themselves to the White House fence:

Standing with the fasters. Thank you for your sacrifice and strength #Fast4Families #Ready4Reform http://t.co/d3V3cnEH1NJen Martin

The immigration reform bill has been supported by Facebook founder Marck Zuckerberg, who called it "one of the biggest civil rights issues of our time".

Below is a video from FWD.us, an organisation launched by Zuckerberg to pressure American politicians to act:

We WaitFWDus

In the video below, a group of the so-called Dreamers with engineering skills were invited by Zuckerberg to a "hackathon" event in Silicon Valley, California. The goals was to create applications that would raise awareness about immigration issues in the US.

Product Spotlight: FWD.us DREAMer HackathonFWDus

Some said that as the political tide is shifting towards immigration reform, Republicans will have to address the issue before the presidential race:

Republicans/GOP - In 2014 & 2016, You will pay for not passing immigration reform.Alvin Garrett

@AJStream The Republican dominated Congress which will pay the price for immigration reform, government shutdown & Syria in 2014 electionsalhaji hamidu chodi

If GOP leaders could get the Rep masses to understand the electoral danger that'd accompany not passing immigration reform they'd be for it.Touré

According to the Immigration Policy Center, failure to pass immigration reform will continue to have humanitarian and economic implications.

immigrationpolicy.org

@AJStream Sadly, families that are undocumented immigrant are exposed to fear of deportation especially if one of the members get intoAgaila Abba